World > Geography > United States Geography

2009 Geography Bee

21st annual National Geographic Bee

by Beth Rowen
world globe

Related Links

External Resources

Eric Yang, a seventh grader at Griffin Middle School in The Colony, Texas, answered every question correctly to win the 21st annual Geography Bee in May 2009. Two other contestants also boasted a perfect score, necessitating a tie-breaker round. Organizers called the Bee the hardest contest to date.

Yang won by correctly answering "Romania" to the following question: "Timis County shares its name with a tributary of the Danube and is located in the western part of which European country?" By placing first, Yang won a $25,000 scholarship and a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. He said he enjoys reading history books, cookbooks, and travel guides.

The National Geographic Bee was open to 55 contestants: one from each state, plus one apiece from Washington, D.C.; Pacific Territories; Puerto Rico; the Virgin Islands; and U.S. Department of Defense schools. The final round, for the top ten finalists, was moderated by Alex Trebek, host of the popular game show Jeopardy! It was broadcast live on the National Geographic Channel.

Arjun Kandaswamy, 14, an eighth grader at Meadow Park Middle School in Beaverton, Ore., won second place and a $15,000 college scholarship. Shantan Krovvidi, 13, a seventh grader at Ligon Middle School in Raleigh, N.C., took third place and a $10,000 college scholarship.

Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Did you know?
The longest suspension bridge in the world, the Akashi Kaikyo bridge in Hyogo, Japan, is over a mile long.

what’s hot

  1. Top 10 End-of-the-Year Gifts for Teachers
  2. 10 Gender-Predicting Old Wives' Tales
  3. Father's Day Crafts Kids Can Make
  4. VIEW ALL

stay connected

Sign up for our free email newsletters and receive the latest advice and information on all things parenting.

Enter your email address to sign up or manage your account.

Facebook icon Twitter icon Follow Us on Pinterest

editor’s picks

highlights

10 Ways to Deal with Temper Tantrums
Temper tantrums are an inevitable part of being parent. Read on for 10 sanity-saving tantrum tips to help calm your child when he's in the throes of emotional turmoil.

8 Printable Thank-You Cards for Your Child's Teacher
Teaching is no walk in the park! Print any of these free printable thank-you cards for teachers to salute your favorite educators for all the hard work this school year.

Explore Funbrain Jr. with Your Preschooler
Looking for fun online games, adorable stories, and cool printables for preschoolers and kindergartners? Check out the new Funbrain Jr., a fun place to learn for children ages 2 to 6.

Award-Winning Apps for Kids of All Ages
Looking for high quality apps for your toddler, preschooler, or school-age child? These 16 award-winning educational apps help kids of all ages learn a thing or two during tech time.

Summer Learning: 11 Everyday Ways to Learn Math
Summertime is a great time to teach your child how math plays a part in his everyday life. These 11 everyday ways to learn math are fun and educational, and will help him see how this subject plays into real life.